WAGERING company Supreme Ventures Limited (SVL) yesterday contributed $150,000 to the 50th renewal of the annual Roper Cup football extravaganza between North Street Rivals St George’s College and Kingston College.

The event, named in honour of the late priest Clarence ‘Jack’ Roper, will be hosted by St George’s College at Emmet Park on Saturday, August 30.

Carlene Edwards, sponsorship and public relations manager at SVL, indicated that her company is pleased to be associated with the family-oriented event, which continues to promote camaraderie and goodwill between the two institutions through friendly and funfilled rivalry.

“We believe in the benefit and value that this event has to offer to St George’s College and Kingston College in garnering well needed funds to bolster their sporting programmes, as well as to continue their friendly rivalry,” Edwards said while addressing the launch at the Spanish Court Hotel yesterday.

She added that the prolonged existence of the event is an example of the level of “commitment” shown by the Old Boys’ Associations of both institutions to keep it on their “calendar”.

“As such, on behalf of all the sponsors, we congratulate you today, and wish for you a very successful event,” she said.

President of the Kingston College Old Boys’ Association Patrick Dallas said his alma mater is very proud to be a part of the competition which he thinks is “very good for North Street”.

Maurice Weir, who brought greetings on behalf of Kingston College’s Principal Dave Myrie, said that despite the schools’ healthy rivalry, they have “remained friends”, and will continue the Roper Cup tradition.

Meanwhile, Clifford Brown, who brought greetings on behalf of Margaret Campbell, principal of the host school, noted that both schools have been utilising different methods to maintain a healthy relationship.

“We go to each other’s graduation and school ceremonies; we try every time to have some exchange of boys going across to and from both schools. So we have been trying to build back the good vibes that I experienced when I was going to school,” he explained.

The day’s events will kick off at 10:00 am with action in the Under-14 category, followed by the Under-16 teams. They will be vying for the George Thompson trophy, which will be decided on aggregate.

The feature game will be between the current Manning Cup teams who are in the final phase of preparations for schoolboy football season.

This game will follow the Under-35 Old Boys’ game for the Roper Cup which again will be decided by the aggregate score line.

Additionally, there will be an Over-35 Old Boys’ game which will showcase the football skills of many former Manning Cup greats from both institutions, as they vie for the Pancho Rankine Cup.

The competition’s milestone will also honour members of the first old boys’ teams from both schools, to include the likes of Lascelve ‘Muggy’ Graham and Neville Oxford.